Forced to Cover Up

Well, I went airsofting, and the "ref" there saw my BDU, looked at me, asked "are you a marine?"
I said: "No, why?"
He said: "Then you either have to take your jacket off or run tape over the "Marine" patch."
Not wanting to argue I agreed.
But really I want to know is why people freak out about that stuff?
I only have that on there becuase it was the cheapest one to buy, and I can\'t get it off.
I know I'm not a marine, I don't dress like a marine, I don't pretend to be a marine, I don't even like the marines that much, other than that little tiny thing that says "US MARINE."
I understand where he comes from, but he had "ARMY" on his shirt. He wasn't in the army, so what the \"Watch your language\"?
He was also a "mega douche."
I swear, every time I watch a vid of airsoft or go airsofting it turns me off, it's either little kids that cheat or old retards who are asses.
Why can't we all live together and play together?

You seriously shoulda said something about the fact that he was wearing something ARMY.

...but I'm confused, what do you mean when you say "I don't even like the Marines that much"?

Although I agree that people should not pretend to be something they aren\'t, i believe that wearing their camo should be fine.

The thing that bugged me was it's woodland, so I don't think they even use that anymore.
And yes, I like the Army much more than the Marines

Other than the obvious respect aspect of the whole thing you probly could have covered the thing up before hand.

Well, to me there is no point, and the field has no rules about it, so I think it was kind of a dick move just to make him "look tough."

Sadly there are asses out there that use the laws to their own benifit, but to make a long story short, it is a Federal Offense to impersonate, a member of the Uniformed services.

Impersonate = to wear the Uniform in such a way as to decieve or present yourself as a Member of the Uniformed Services.

It is also a Federal Offense to wear the uniform without the expressed permission from the Secretary of Defense.

**** Federal laws concerning the wear of the United States Military uniforms by people not on active duty are published in the United States Code (USC).

Specifically, 10 USC, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 45, Sections 771 and 772.

Section 771 states:

Except as otherwise provided by law, no person except a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, as the case may be, may wear -

(1) the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform, of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps; or

(2) a uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps

Section 772 lists some exceptions:

(a) A member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard may wear the uniform prescribed for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be.

(b) A member of the Naval Militia may wear the uniform prescribed for the Naval Militia.

(c) A retired officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title and wear the uniform of his retired grade.

(d) A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may wear his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home, within three months after his discharge.

(e) A person not on active duty who served honorably in time of war in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title, and, when authorized by regulations prescribed by the President, wear the uniform, of the highest grade held by him during that war.

(f) While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not tend to discredit that armed force.

(g) An officer or resident of a veterans' home administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs may wear such uniform as the Secretary of the military department concerned may prescribe.

(h) While attending a course of military instruction conducted by the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, a civilian may wear the uniform prescribed by that armed force if the wear of such uniform is specifically authorized under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the military department concerned.

(i) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe, a citizen of a foreign country who graduates from an Air Force school may wear the appropriate aviation badges of the Air Force.

(j) A person in any of the following categories may wear the uniform prescribed for that category:

•(1) Members of the Boy Scouts of America.

•(2) Members of any other organization designated by the Secretary of a military department.




The Uniform becomes a Military uniform as soon as you start adding Name Tapes, Branch, Unit Patches, Rank Insignia, Leadership Tabs.

Wearing just the Blouse or Trousers, does not make the clothes a Uniform.

Sadly Creed, this Ref ( Bozo ), was just using his position on the playing field to intimidate, the next time it happens, you are now armed to return fire with extreme predjudice.

Thanks Slob! That is a great reference.

Question for you slob: since school is out, does that mean I'm not in MCJROTC and therefore not allowed to wear full MCCUU? I'll be in the program next year and I'll be a LE-II level Cadet, if that means anything.

Quote :

(f) While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not tend to discredit that armed force.

Does that count for airsoft in I'm recording?

Also, what if you get it from an Army Surplus store?
Does that still count as an offense?

but you're not a marine jarhead, so those laws don't fall under you. if the boyscouts are having a summer break etc im pretty sure they can wear their uniforms for giggles as well.

also as for impersonating a military, i believe it should be fine, for example it would be bad to wear the uniform anywhere else (at a 7eleven), but in a specified zone such as an airsoft zone i believe it is perfectly understandable. same rules apply to airsoft replicas, only use them in certain areas.
i honestly don't think its that big of a deal, so long as you don\'t go around saying" im a marine, i earned this uniform as a boot, blah blah blah"

as everyone else stated that guy is just an old tard. (this wasn't at jericho was it? O_O)

Quote :

Question for you slob: since school is out, does that mean I'm not in MCJROTC and therefore not allowed to wear full MCCUU? I'll be in the program next year and I'll be a LE-II level Cadet, if that means anything.

You have finnished this years level of schooling, and until instruction starts, you are no longer an active participant of the JROTC program, if you are in the summer continue program, you are considered `` Enrolled ´´.

Quote :

Also, what if you get it from an Army Surplus store?
Does that still count as an offense?

Just because you buy it from army surplus, dosn´t mean you are allowed to wear it. It´s kind of like buying a car, in theory you can buy a car at any age, it dosn´t mean you can drive it.
Here is another little tid bit of information for you, as long as the Uniform has the Military Label in it, the uniform can be confiscated by authorities at any time, it dosn´t matter if you paid for it, the Uniform is still considered U.S. Government Property, now ain´t that a Ball Buster for all the Players that `` Have to have nothing but Original Issue ´´.

This is like picking the Fly Crap out of Pepper, but to be informed is to be better prepared, the next time some REF, Player or just out right Butthead, come up and tells you to Cover a Tape, Patch, Stencil, first check Him/her out, if they are doing the same then fine, if not , ask to see the ID Card, if it ain´t green, they ain´t clean, Inform them of the Law, and carry on like a good airsoft player.

Some useless trivia for you, In every Movie, Sitcom, Series, except two, Errors are intentionaly done to the uniforms ( Required by the DoD ), can anybody tell me, Who was portrayed, and what War(s).
You have to be real good ( or old ) to know this.

Sticks??????

I'm guessing you mean who was portrayed in the movies that weren't forced to have errors...
I'm gunna guess John Wayne in The Longest Day
and "Whats his face" in HeIl is for Heroes.

Alright, got it. Thanks for the info, slob!

Good to know, and when you said butthead, I fell off my chair.
But no, not at Jericho Pendelton, Jericho Elsinore.

slob, was Audie Murphy's "To Helll & Back" one of them?

I believe Audie Murphy played himself in "To \"Watch your language\" & back"

So he falls under the category of both having served and as portraying someone of the Armed forces.

okay, so what if my team wants to use patches on our bdus to distinguish roles?

Mmmm! I have a good one!
What if my grandpa was a 101 Airborne, and gave me all his patches. I wear those on my plate carrier, is that bad?

In my opinion, as long as you're only wearing it during an OP and aren't claiming to be an enlisted member, it should be fine.

Creed769 wrote:

Mmmm! I have a good one!
What if my grandpa was a 101 Airborne, and gave me all his patches. I wear those on my plate carrier, is that bad?

Is that sarcasm I smell?

no...
?

@Insane
I wasn't aware one could smell sarcasm.

@slob
Am I allowed to wear MCJROTC service tapes, or would that be illegal?

Just to make sure I understand this right, if I have a non-issued desert MARPAT cover on my replica MICH-2000 helmet, and I stitch a name tape on the back of it, then the United States government can knock on my door and take my helmet no questions asked, right?

Where was this? Sounds like SC Village or DFF refs.

Honestly, the need for a "referee" is insulting...airsoft is an honor sport.
I can see the reason for having "moderators" or "game controllers"...but not someone out there calling your hits for you.
With a referee on the field, it just becomes "make sure you don't let the ref see you get hit".

As for the original issue of military portrayal...wear MARPAT or tiger stripe...wear the "GI" gear...
...just don't have "honor" items...such as tour patches (ie: "Operation Iraqi Freedom"), regimental ID's (ie: "101st Airborne Division"), or rank of any kind.

I personally don't wear anything but team, sponsor, and event patches...and although my loadout portrays USMC, you wont find the words "Marine Corps" anywhere on me.

Jarhead999 76 65 wrote:

@slob
Am I allowed to wear MCJROTC service tapes, or would that be illegal?

Why would you?

"Im gunna just wear my stuff around town or to the airsoft field to get attention and make people think I'm a Marine and have them come up and thank me for service that I really haven't done and likely never will do...oh man that'd be so cool. But hey, that's alright cuz I'm totally MCJROTC...thats like the next best thing right? I'm totally MCJROTC! OORAH!"

Same goes for doing that online.

slob212 wrote:

Some useless trivia for you, In every Movie, Sitcom, Series, except two, Errors are intentionaly done to the uniforms ( Required by the DoD ), can anybody tell me, Who was portrayed, and what War(s).
You have to be real good ( or old ) to know this.

Sticks??????

Found it
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=245962

you can wear any unit patches you want. but you might get some grief if any one in that unit sees you.

if you choose to wear a U.S. Military uniform you should be ok if you only wear 1 of the following 3: name tape, rank, or service tap ( Army, Marine,..). using JROTC as an example they use name tapes but there own rank and service tapes.

name taps on a helmet can be done by anyone. name tapes are not supposed to be on helmets but some people do it so they don't get there helmet mixed up with someone else's. same thing with other pieces of gear like backpacks

JROTC is a Military sponsored school program. so there uniforms are a school uniform and not a military uniform. cames with service tap are just cames anyone can wear them. add a JROTC service tape and it is now a school uniform. add a Military service tape and you have a Military uniform.

if you notice people in war movies wearing uniforms that do not have any differences. you will see a comment in the credits about them thanking the Military for there support or permission, or something along those lines. or they get around it by using active duty personal. i have Marine friends where in; letters from iwo jima, Flags of are father, and jurassic park III.


in short if your playing airsoft somewhere that does not have many military people. no one will care. even if there are Military people there, they may not care. but if someone gets on your case about it. well there right and your committing a federal crime.

as far as the ref "freaking out". well Marines unlike any other service really have to earn the right to be a Marine. so to them it is a big deal. and if you ever went through what they did it would be to you too.